How To Handle Collective Family Stress

Handling collective family stress can feel like the weight of the world on your shoulders. However, leaving things to fester could leave you with a dysfunctional family, and kids who don’t know how to cope with difficult emotions, which can later affect them into their adult years. Here, we’ll take a look at how to handle collective family stress. 

Know Your Own Stress Triggers

First, you should understand your own stress triggers. This way, you can minimize them. You can also go easy on yourself if you’re finding things more difficult. Don’t beat yourself up for feeling dysregulated. Simply do what you can to minimize stress and make things a little easier for yourself; trust that you’re doing your best. 

Take Care Of Yourself First 

Your family is probably the most important thing to you, but if you don’t look after yourself first, you simply won’t be able to care for them effectively. Take care of yourself by practicing self love, acceptance, and relaxation. Try to lighten your workload, and reduce your stress levels in other ways. For example, exercise, pampering yourself, and eating well. This way, you will be well equipped to help your family. 

Practice Mindfulness Together 

Practice mindfulness as a family every single day. Consider a family meditation session, even. You can also practice deep breathing, listing things you’re grateful for, and more. Mindfulness is a wonderful skill, and you will be teaching your kids amazing skills for their later years. Adults try very hard to get mindfulness down, but kids are like sponges. 

Do Something Meaningful As A Family 

Do meaningful things as a family. Watch funny movies together, read books, and play games. Cook and bake. Eat meals together every day. Make sure there’s a sense of community in your family. 

Have Routines 

A routine is essential, as it makes kids feel safe. Make sure you have a set bedtime and get up time, and try to stay in good habits so that each day is less of a chore. Have breakfast, get dressed, and try to find ways to make the basic things fun. Can you play a song while you all brush your teeth? If you’re working as a family caregiver then routines are even more important, as they require hard work and a lot of chores. 

Accept And Validate All Emotions 

Emotions are unique to the individual, and can stem from a variety of places. Make sure you’re accepting of your own emotions and family’s emotions, and that you listen and validate them where possible. Listening can go a long way. Simply understanding, without providing solutions can also help. Telling a family member not to ‘be silly’ is hugely invalidating and makes them shut off from telling you things in future. 

Get Help From A Pro

Everyone could benefit from professional help, even if we think we’re doing fine. Taking your family to see a family therapist or counselor could be a huge help during hard times. Don’t turn your nose up at it before you’ve tried it.